Governor McAuliffe Announces Winners of the First Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions

Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the winners of the first Governor’s Competition for Talent Solutions. These grant awardees were selected from among 27 applicants, and they represent the very best in workforce development partnerships between business and the public sector. The competition winners come from all over the Commonwealth, and they will each receive matching incentive grants to design and deliver training for new and existing workers to close the skills gap and support the growth of the Virginia economy.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Governor McAuliffe said, “These awards are a testament to the power of businesses working together to build a stronger workforce. I am pleased that this process has inspired firms in many industries, from manufacturing to transportation, to identify their needs and create innovative new partnerships to get Virginians the skills they need to improve their lives and build a new Virginia economy.”

This grant competition is the first of its kind in Virginia and exemplifies the Commonwealth’s commitment to building a demand-driven workforce system. Business engagement is a key indicator of performance as partners look to improve the alignment between the state’s economic development strategy and workforce development and delivery system.

“This competition highlights the importance of businesses playing a key leadership role in developing our talent,” said of Commerce and Trade Maurice Jones. “I am excited about the innovative solutions put forth by these businesses and look forward to working together to train a new generation of highly skilled talent.”